The North Dakota Fighting Hawks are not here to rebuild. They are here to reload. Coming off a 2025 FCS Playoff appearance, the Fighting Hawks enter spring football with legitimate ambitions — and a roster that gives head coach Eric Schmidt plenty to work with heading into the 2026 season.
With 19 significant contributors returning and a handful of high-impact transfer additions, North Dakota is positioned to make noise in a Missouri Valley Football Conference that just lost North Dakota State to the FBS Mountain West. The door is open. The question is who walks through it first.
Positional Battles That Will Define the Season
The most competitive room this spring is at cornerback. Grant Noland returns after earning Freshman All-American honors — a remarkable debut that signaled he belongs at this level. But the Fighting Hawks need someone to step up opposite him after losing Bennett Walker and backup Idrique Carmichael from last year’s squad.
Evan Kludt logged around 100 snaps in 2025 and showed enough against Tarleton State to earn serious consideration. JUCO national champion Travis Hines II brings versatility and positional flexibility across the secondary — exactly the kind of depth the Hawks desperately need heading into fall. The most intriguing name, though, is Akron transfer Ben Kamara — a player with an established track record who could walk in and immediately claim a starting role.
At running back, the situation starts from near scratch. With Gaven Ziebarth, Xavier Leigh, and Sawyer Seidl all gone, sophomore Colton Brunell leads the Hawks’ depth chart with just 209 yards and two touchdowns on his resume. The most impactful addition is Matt Lawson from Illinois State — a proven MVFC commodity expected to carry the load behind what projects to be a strong offensive line. Brunell has flashed potential, and Charles Langama, who had limited action as a freshman, could push for snaps as well.
Wide receiver is the position group facing the steepest climb. The Fighting Hawks lost three of their top four pass catchers, putting enormous pressure on Korey Tai and Deng Deng to step up as the clear top options. Transfers Caleb Goodloe and Cameron Weir will compete for roles, while Minnesota State-Moorhead transfer Madden Thorson brings the kind of seasoned experience that could accelerate his path to a starting spot.
Players Built for a Breakout
Two names stand above the rest when it comes to 2026 breakout potential
- Deng Deng (WR) — Standing 6-foot-4 and 217 pounds, Deng is a matchup nightmare waiting to fully happen. He caught touchdown passes in four consecutive games last season, proving he can deliver when the moment calls for it. With the departures ahead of him, this is his backfield to own.
- Grant Noland (CB) — Already one of the most promising young corners in the FCS after his freshman season, Noland showed he could perform on the playoff stage. Another year of development could vault him into an All-Conference conversation by November.
Transfer Portal Additions Worth Watching
The Fighting Hawks went to work in the portal and addressed real needs
- Matt Lawson (RB) — Illinois State product with proven MVFC production. Expected to be the featured back from day one.
- Marquis Edmond (S) — Virginia State transfer who brings experience and versatility to a secondary that needed both.
- Avery Dixon (S) — Two-time All-GLVC honoree whose size and track record make him an immediate factor in the safety competition.
The Returners Who Make It All Work
No player on this roster carries more weight entering 2026 than edge rusher Lance Rucker. He closed the 2025 season as one of the hottest pass rushers in all of FCS football, earning All-American recognition before suffering an injury late in the playoff run. His health and his dominance will set the tone for everything the Fighting Hawks want to do defensively.
Kaden Vig’s return alongside Rucker gives North Dakota one of the more dangerous edge duos in the MVFC. The creativity that pairing unlocks for defensive coordinator schemes is significant.
At quarterback, Jerry Kaminski is the glue. He had his moments in 2025 — including gutsy performances in close games — but deep ball accuracy remains the area most in need of refinement. The MVFC is loaded with exceptional quarterbacks returning in 2026, which means Kaminski will be tested early and often. His growth under center is the variable that determines how far this team can go.
The Hawks open the 2026 season August 27 against LIU before a home opener September 5 against St. Thomas. A road trip to Nebraska in September adds a major early test before conference play kicks into gear. The schedule is demanding — but so is this roster.
